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Basilisk. Gesner, the author of the book whence the image comes
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Basilisk. Gesner, the author of the book whence the image comes
Gesner, the author of the book whence the image comes, labels this creature a basilisk but its really a ray-fish. Date: 1598
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Media ID 20142001
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1598 Basilisk Creature Creatures Fantastical Folklore Gesner Labels Mythological Basilisks
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing image, published in Conrad Gesner's seminal work "Historia Animalium" in 1598, presents a fantastical creature labeled as a Basilisk. Gesner, a renowned Swiss naturalist and scholar, was a pioneer in the field of zoology and made significant contributions to the study of animals through his extensive research and writing. However, in this particular instance, Gesner's identification of the creature is incorrect. The creature depicted in the print is not a Basilisk, the mythological serpent-like creature with the ability to petrify living beings with a single glance, but rather a ray-fish. The misidentification of this creature is a testament to the prevailing folklore and mythology of the time, which often blurred the lines between fact and fiction in the understanding of the natural world. Despite Gesner's error, the print remains an intriguing artifact of the era, showcasing the fascination and curiosity that drove naturalists and scholars to explore and document the natural world, even if their understanding was not always accurate. The image of the Basilisk-ray-fish serves as a reminder of the importance of continued research and the evolution of scientific knowledge over time. The print itself is a stunning example of the illustrative techniques of the late Renaissance period, with intricate detail and lifelike accuracy, capturing the imagination of viewers even as our understanding of the creature's true identity has evolved.
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